Preparing for #TCRN05

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Shortly after returning to London I scribbled down some thoughts about what had worked well and what not so well during the race, just in case, y’know, there was a “next time” or something. Three months later I have returned to my scrawled notes, and they read something like this. Maybe they’ll be of use…

On 2 January this year I found out I had a place on the TCR. I had never ridden further than 200km in one day (and neither did I know anyone who had.) I wasn’t a member of a cycling club (and neither did I know anyone who was). I didn’t have a clue how…

The last specs of dirt have disappeared from my fingernails. That strong aversion to croissants and vending machine coffee has started to dissipate. My fatigued thighs are twitching back into life. Conversations are no longer about sore bits, bus stops and dog chases. And the passing days feel a touch empty with their busy-ness. And…

This last post before the race was meant to be a kit list post. I’ve found other people’s blogs super helpful in my planning, so wanted to return the favour to someone else. But I’m not yet quite packed so I guess it’ll have to wait… Instead this is just a brief and totally unstructured…

At the end of last week we received the good news that TCRNo5 will be going ahead. Chapeau and many thanks to Mike’s friends and the TCRNo4 team who are pulling together to make this happen. It will be an honour to be part of the race this year. I am now starting to really…

I’ve been feeling so lucky to be out on the road and spinning through the miles these last few weeks. I never met him but Mike Hall has been in my thoughts a lot on these rides, as I’m sure is the case for much of the cycling community (or at least the corner of it that…

Last week I hung up my radio and swapped my bike for a different set of wheels… a wheely desk chair . I’ve started an office job. Courier work is not the easiest way to pay the rent, but I will certainly miss spending my days outside and on the bike, and the daily (funny / angry / spirited)…

One month has passed since I returned from Spain. I suppose that also means I am one month into my training. With job applications and interviews, niggling shin splints from the combination of running and courier work, the post-camp come-down, and the cranking up of weekend cycling, it’s felt like quite a full and emotionally…

In early January I spent one week in the foothills of the Spanish Pyrenees, cycling in the company of a rather fantastic collection of women – of all ages, experiences and ambitions. This was a training camp organized by Emily Chappell and Lee Craigie of the Adventure Syndicate. The cycling was beautiful and invigorating, but…